Fluid distributor



B. A. GRAYBEAL FLUID DISTRIBUTOR Filed March 26, 1949 INVENTOR fiParzA $94,054.

A TORNEY Patented Jan. 1 9, 1954 stain FLUID DISTRIBUTOR Bruce Andrew Graybeal, Conowingo, Md., as-

signor to Johns-Manville Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 26, 1949, Serial No. 83,629 4 Claims. (Cl. 1 7-118) The instant invention relates to adistributor or meter for dividing a flowing stream of afluid into a plurality of individual streams of predetermined proportionate volume.

The invention has found an important held of use in the application'of binders, waterproofing compounds, conditioning oils and other treating materials in certain mineral wool manufacturing operations where it is preferable to, introduce the treating material into the mass of newly formed fibers at a plurality of locations. However, the invention is not to be construed as limited to this use as it will have other applications where similar problems are involved.

The invention has for its principal object the provision of a distributor for fluids which is simple OLf construction and operation and which divides an initial flow of the fluid into a plurality of individual streams with accurate control of the proportionate volume of the fluid delivered by each stream.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such distributor in which the fluid is introduced in the form of a spray, the spray being divided and the fluid collected in separated sec-- tors from which it is drawn off as individual streams.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a distributor of the type referred to including means for the introduction of a gas under pressure to force the material from the distributor.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved method of dividing fluid, the method involving the division of a conical spray of the fluid into proportionate amounts.

Briefly stated, the apparatus comprises a container having partitions adjacent the wall thereof defining a plurality of compartments or sectors. These may be of the same or different widths, depending upon the distribution desired. A nozzle is employed of a type to introduce a substantially uniform spray of the material to be distributed. In the method 011' carrying out the invention the spray is directed toward the wall of the container, whereby each sector receives its proportionate amount. In the preferred embodiment a gas under pressure, such as steam,

is introduced into the container, either with the fluid or separately, to create an internal pressure which will force the distributed material from the several sectors.

My invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is to follow and to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View, with parts broken away for clearness of illustration, of a distributor emb-odying'the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of Fig. l; and,

Fig. 3 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 33 Olf Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a distributor It comprising a container or tanlc l2, suitably supported by means (not shown) in any desired location. The container is of cylindrical form and includes an upper wall it, a peripheral wall It and a bottom wall it. The bottom wall is of conical shape, as illustrated, with the apex of the cone substantially on the axis of the container. Projecting inwardly from the peripheral wall is a series of partitions 2t, suitably of triangular shape and extending only part way into the container to leave a relatively large central open space. The partitions are soldered, welded or otherwise sealed to the peripheral wall and to the bottom wall to define a sector or compartment 22 between each pair of partitions. The number of sectors will be determined by the number of streams into which the introduced material is to be divided and the relative spacing of the partitions; i. e., the relative widths of the several sectors will be determined by the proportionate amount of the material to be collected within the different sectors. In the construction illustrated the secmrs are shown of equal widths to collect equal quantities of the material.

A spray nozzle 2:1 is mounted centrally of the upper wall I l of the container in a position to direct a downward spray of the material to be distributed and is connected by pipe 25 to any suitable supply of the material. Nozzle 24 is of a standard type, available on the market, and is adapted to discharge a substantially uniform conical spray.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention an inlet 28' is provided at the apex of the conical bottom wall it. A pipe 39 leading from a source of gas under pressure is connected into the inlet. A baffie 32, preferably consisting of an upwardly dished plate, is supported above the inlet, as illustrated, suitably on legs 3%: projecting from the bottom wall it.

Each of sectors 22 is provided with an outlet 36, preferably located substantially centrally of the sector and at the juncture of the bottom and peripheral walls of the container. Leads 33 are connected into the outlets, the leads extending to the places of discharge of the distributed material. For example, in the manufacture of mineral wool, leads 88 will terminate in spray nozzles located at the desired points to project treating material into the newly formed fibers.

In the operation of the device described above and in carrying out the method, a material to be distributed is supplied under pressure at a constant rate through pipe 26 and discharged as a downwardly and outwardly directed conical spray by nozzle 24. The spray pattern distributes the material among the several sectors in proportionate amounts, determined by the widths of the sectors. The collected material flows to the lower portions of the sectors defined by the junctures of the peripheral and bottom walls of the container, and thence is conducted outwardly through outlets 36 and leads 38.

Where it is desired to maintain the distributed material under pressure, a gas such as compressed air or high temperature steam may be introduced through pipe 38 and inlet 28 to pressurize the interior of the container. Baffle 32 intercepts the iniiowing stream of gas and prevents disruption of the conical spray pattern delivered by nozzle 26.

In some instances, particularly where relatively small quantities of material are to be distributed, it is desirable to introduce steam or other gas under pressure with material through spray nozzle 24. The steam or gas improves the uniformity of the conical spray pattern to provide better distribution. Also, it may serve either alone, or in conjunction with, gas introduced through inlet 28 to pressurize the interior of the container. If it is used alone for this purpose, inlet 28 is sealed off from the interior in any suitable manner, for example by closing a valve (not shown) in pipe 30.

The invention described above which is of simple and economical construction accurately divides a single, large stream into a plurality of smaller streams in accordance with a predetermined ratio.

Having thus described my invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that these details need not be strictly adhered to and that various changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a fiuid distributor, a cylindrical container having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall, a nozzle mounted axially of said container above said bottom wall for discharging a conical spray, means connecting said nozzle to a fluid supply, sector defining partitions spaced around the peripheral wall of said container, outlets from said sectors, an inlet in said container connected to a source of gas under pressure, and a bafile overlying said inlet to prevent disruption of said spray by the inflowing gas.

2. In a fluid distributor, a cylindrical container having an upwardly projecting conical bottom wall and a peripheral wall, a nozzle mounted axially of said container above said bottom wall for discharging a conical spray of a fluid, sector defining partitions spaced around the peripheral wall of the container and extending radially inwardly therefrom, outlets from said sectors, an inlet in said container connected to a source of gas under pressure, and a baiile overlying said inlet to prevent disruption of said spray by the infiowing gas.

3. In a fluid distributor, a. cylindrical'container having an upwardly projecting conical bottom wall and a peripheral wall, a nozzle mounted axially of said container above said bottom wall for discharging a conical spray of a fluid, sector defining partitions spaced around the peripheral wall of the container and extending radially inwardly therefrom, outlets from said sectors, an inlet in said container substantially centrally 0f the bottom wall thereof, means connecting said inlet to a source of gas under pressure, a baiile, and means supporting said baffle above said inlet.

4. In a distributor, a container, means dividing portions of said container into sectors, a nozzle for producing a conical spray of material, said nozzle being positioned to direct said spray downwardly into said sectors, outlets from said sectors, means for spraying a gas under pressure into said container to force the material from said outlets, and baffle means extending across the path of flow of the gas.

BRUCE ANDREW GRAYBELAL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,078,775 Darrow Nov. 18, 1913 1,268,100 Dreilein June 4, 1918 2,126,364 Witzel Aug. 9, 1938 2,143,877 Harte, JR Jan. 17, 1939 2,868,990 James Feb. 6, 1945 2,389,412 Carlton Nov. 20, 1945 2,389,413 Carlton Nov. 20, 1945 

